Eagles of Death Metal singer apologizes for Bataclan accusations

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Jesse Hughes, left, and Josh Homme of the Eagles of Death Metal perform in Los Angeles in October.

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Eagles of Death Metal front man Jesse Hughes apologizes to the "people of France"

He had suggested guards at Bataclan theater may have been involved in terror massacre

Hughes: "The shame is 100% mine"

(CNN)Eagles of Death Metal frontman Jesse Hughes has apologized to the "people of France" for his "absurd accusations" that guards at Paris' Bataclan theater may have been involved in November's terrorist massacre during a concert by the American rock band.

In an interview with Fox Business Network on Wednesday, Hughes said that he learned before the November 13 show that about six security guards at the historic venue had not showed up for work on the night that terrorist killed 89 people.

"It seems rather obvious they had a reason not to show up," he said.

Makeshift memorials popped up outside the Bataclan to honor those killed and wounded inside.

On Friday, however, the singer and guitarist changed his tune on Facebook and Twitter, calling his assertions "unfounded and baseless."

"I humbly beg forgiveness from the people of France, the staff and security of the Bataclan, my fans, family, friends and anyone else hurt or offended by the absurd accusations I made in my Fox Business Network interview," he said in a statement.

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"The shame is 100% mine. I've been dealing with nonstop nightmares and struggling through therapy to make sense of this tragedy and insanity. I haven't been myself since November 13. I realize there's no excuse for my words, but for what it's worth: I am sincerely sorry for having hurt, disrespected or accused anyone."

His comments on Fox came less than a month after Eagles of Death Metal returned to a Paris stage to massive cheers. The sellout performance at the Olympia included 900 survivors and relatives of those killed at the Bataclan, which remains closed.

Hughes and the band had been playing at the Bataclan onstage for about an hour when three masked gunmen started shooting into the crowd with automatic weapons.

The November raid was one of a coordinated series of attacks on restaurants, cafes and venues -- including the Stade de France -- which left 130 people dead and scores more injured.

Photos:Victims of the Paris terror attacks

Photos:Victims of the Paris terror attacks

Charlie Hebdo editor and cartoonist Stephane Charbonnier, known as Charb, was among the 12 people killed in a terror attack Wednesday, January 7, at the magazine's offices in Paris. On January 9, four hostages were killed when a gunman seized a Jewish grocery store and killed them before police moved in.

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Photos:Victims of the Paris terror attacks

Jean Cabut, also known as Cabu, was one of the well-known Charlie Hebdo cartoonists killed in the attack. London's Daily Mail described him as "an almost legendary cultural figure in France."

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Photos:Victims of the Paris terror attacks

Cartoonist Georges Wolinski, 80, was a political cartoonist. "He was a great satirical artist," said Mexican cartoonist Felipe Galindo, a friend of Wolinski, who once presented him with an award. "Nothing was sacred for him. He would touch anything. But he was also a very gentle, very kind man."

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Photos:Victims of the Paris terror attacks

Cartoonist Bernard Verlhac, also known as Tignous, was a man "who enjoyed freedom to its fullest in his artistic creativity and published his cartoons without fear," said Ecuadorian cartoonist Xavier Bonilla.

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Photos:Victims of the Paris terror attacks

Economist Bernard Maris was among the magazine's contributors. He wrote about economic issues under the byline of "Oncle Bernard," contributed to mainstream broadcasts and taught at Université Paris 8, the Globe and Mail reported.

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Photos:Victims of the Paris terror attacks

Cartoonist Philippe Honoré, also known as Honoré, was born in wartime France, in Vichy in 1941.

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Photos:Victims of the Paris terror attacks

Michel Renaud was a visitor at the newspaper office. He was known for his work on the cultural life of Clermont-Ferrand and held several positions in the municipality, France 3 Auvergne reported.

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Elsa Cayat, the only woman killed in the newspaper attack, was a psychoanalyst and twice-monthly columnist for the paper.

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Photos:Victims of the Paris terror attacks

Ahmed Merabet was a member of the 11th arrondissement police force that pursued the attacker of the newspaper office. Merabet was Muslim, his brother Malek told reporters. "He was killed by false Muslims," the brother said. "Islam is a safe religion."

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Photos:Victims of the Paris terror attacks

Yoav Hattab, 21, one of the four hostages killed at the kosher grocery on January 9. He was the son of the chief rabbi of Tunis, Tunisia, JSSNews reported.

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Photos:Victims of the Paris terror attacks

Yohan Cohen was a 22-year-old student, according JSSNews and a French news outlet. He liked rap, particularly French rapper Booba.

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Philippe Braham was in his 40s, and no further details were immediately available, JSSNews reported.

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Photos:Victims of the Paris terror attacks

François-Michel Saada, 63, was a retired senior executive, according to French news outlets RTL and Agence-France Press.

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In a late November interview with Vice founder Shane Smith, band members praised the heroism of their fans and recounted harrowing details of the attack and their eventual escape to safety.

"I want to be the first band to play in the Bataclan when it opens back up because I was there when it went silent for a minute," Hughes said in the interview.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the Fox Business Network.